Improvement in cigar-cutters



LSHEPARD.

CIGAR-CUTTER.

v A 11mm (0 Patented Deg. 28,1876.

N.FETER5. PHUTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACKSON SHEPARD, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT I N ClGA'R-CUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,584, dated December28, 1875; application filed November 15, 1875.

- To all whom it may concern:

tion, in which Figure I" is an end elevation. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation.

This invention relates to cigar-cutters; and consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the bed -block, generally ofwood, cut away at the back for attachment to a table. It is groovedendwise on top for the cigars, and has the usual scale and movableguard. Pivoted at the end of the bed-block A at b is a wrist-lever, B,working in a vertical plane transversely of the bed A. Outside thislever B, resting against the shoulder-pins c c, is the under knife 0,which has a concave cuttingedge, as shown, and extending over the endsurface of the block A, the concave edge corresponding to the groove inbed A. Outside of this, and pivoted to the prolonged shoulderpin 0, isthe upper knife D, which also has a concave cutting-edge, as shown. Itslower end is slotted, and in it works the lower end of lever B, which isbent over to suit. Then attached to a pin on the face of knife 0, and tothe end of lever B, which projects through the slot in knife D, is aretractile spring, .5", to keep the knives always apart after using, soas to be ready for the next cut. The rear upper edge of the block isrecessed as a thumbhole, a, so that in laying the cigar in position itmay be held while cutting, without liability of the thumb to slip orpress against the sharp edge of the block.

The lever B is bent over at its rear end, so

as to come'in toward the middle of device.

The purpose of this is the purpose of my invention, namely-to allow theoperator to cut the cigar with one hand, and with the same handadjustand hold the cigar at the proper position. This will be seen from thefollowing operation: v

The slide being adjusted, the uncut cigar is laid in the groove, withits fag end projecting over knife 0, the thumb of operator lying out ofthe way in recess' a. Then, while holding the cigar thus, he brings hiswrist, or the ball of his hand, down upon the lever B, depressing itsnear end, throwing its far end up, and with it the slotted end of knifeD, which then comes down, and the cigar is cut off neatly between thetwo knives. Pressure being released, the spring throws the knives clearof each other, and the device is ready again.

In case a left-handed man wishes to use thehaving its upper end curvedto form acuttingblade, and its shank slotted, the operating-lever B,having its short arm connected to said slotted shank, and its long armprojecting forward and laterally toward the bed, substantially as shown,whereby the hand that holds the cigar, or the wrist thereof, maymanipulate the lever, as set forth.

2. The bed-block A of a cigar-cutting machine, having the recessedthumb-hole a and longitudinal cigar-channel, substantially as.

shown, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim-the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this22d day of October, 1875.

. JACKSON SHEPARD. Witnesses:

JOHN MILLER, F. J. MCTIGHE.

